Improvement in ditching and tile-laying machines



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THE GRAPHIC '0.PHOT0-LITH.39&4'I PARK PLAGE,N.Y.

vfor the tiles.

UNITE STATES PATENT Ormea.

B. I. FOSTER ANI) IV. I'I. CHAFFEE, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGJORS TO VM. Il. OHAFFEE, OF SAME PLACE;

llVlPROVENlENT iN DlTCHlNG AND TlLE-LAYING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,596, dated Ocloher l5, 19121.

To (all 1,071,011@ t '1n/.wy concern:

Be it known that we, B. I. Fos'rn and XVM. H. CHAFFEE, of Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented an Improved Ditching and Tile-Laying Machine, the construction and opera-tion of which we have described in the following specification and illustrated in its accompanying drawings with suiicient clear-ness to enable competent and skillful workmen in the arts to which it pertains or is most nearly allied to make and use our invention.

Our said invention consists in, first, the arrangement of the teeth and scrapers on the buckets of an endless chain or belt, hereinafter described, so that the teeth of one bucket shall come in line with the interstces between the teeth of the preceding bucket in such a manner as to give alternate lines of deeper penetration into the soil, these two buckets being followed by one having a scraper extending the full width et the belt, as hereinafter more fully set forth, second, the combination of a slide or guide for guiding the tiles into position at the bottom ot' the ditch, with a spout for conveying the dirt from the buckets to cover the tiles, and a reel for holding a roll of cloth, which is allowed to unwind as the machine advances, in order to cover the tiles and prevent the loose dirt from entering at their joints, as hereinafter described, the said parts being arranged to work in connection with an excavating apparatus, as set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of our machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the guide Fig. 4 is a plan of a spout or conveyer, which throwsthe dirt from the buckets to one side, so as not to iill the ditch.

1 l is the frame ol' the machine. 2 2 2 are the buckets composing an endless chain. The first of these buckets 2 is armed with teeth at the edge, which comes in contact with the ground. The next succeeding bucket 2 has its teeth so placed as to follow the interstices between the teeth ofthe bucket 2, which precedes it. These two buckets having passed over the ground, and having with their teeth thoroughly broken it up, the scraper on bucket 2 follows them and takes whatever of the loose dirt the others have left. This chain of buckets is hung on two sprocket-wheels, 3 3, the lower one being hung on a shalt, 4, which has its supports in the lower end ofthe hanger 5, the upper shaft, 7 being hung in the adjustable frame (i. This frame is made adjustable, for the purpose ol'regulatin g the depth to which the ditch shall be dug. As the endless chain is supported by it the dept-h to which the said chain digs is determined by theheight at which the l'rame 6 is secured. This adjustment is also used when the machine iirst begins to dig the ditch, the buckets being allowed to descend gradually till they have reached the required depth. This adjustment is accomplished by means of the windlass S and the ropes or chains 9, which wind on it, the said windlass being turned by means of the crank 10 and prevented from ruiming back by the ratchet-wheel 1l and pawl 12.

The swinging frame 5 is secured in adjustment and supported in the desired angular position by means of the brace 28, attached at one end to said swinging frame or hanger 5, and at the other secured -by the pin 29 to the frame (i, in such a position as to secure the proper action of the parts under the circumstances of the particular case in which it may be used for the time being, said brace 2S being provided with several holes at intervals, as shown, to allow the proper or desired ad j ustnient.

In the rear end of the machine is a reel, .13, on which a roll of cloth is wound. This cloth is allowed to unwind as the machine advances, covering the tiles and protecting the joints from the entrace of the loose dirt. By the time the cloth will have rotted the dirt will have become so compact as to leave no danger of inconvenience from that source. The tiles are laid on a slide or guide, 14, represented in detail in Fig. 3, on which they slide down and take their position inthe ditch. The lower part, 15, of the guide being just large enough for the tile to slip over it easily, will hold them in their places laterally, while the pressure exerted by those above will force them together longitudinally. This guide is fastened to the brackets on the under side o'l` the machine, which are shown at 31,.

The machine is driven ahead by means of a feeding apparatus connecting with the main lriving-shal't 7, and acting on ropes secured yo the `ground at each end bynieans of stakes, und passing;` onee around a windlass attached zo the machine. 16 is the band or eord lead ng from the pulley 17 on Ithe main shaft 7, nid drives the intermediate pulley, 18, which, y means of the belt or cord 19, drives the )ulley 20 on the shalt 2l. On the said shaft El are two gea-r wheels or pinions, 22 22, which nesh into the wheels 23 255. These two wheels :I 23 are upon the shaft 2-1, which serves as he forward axle of the machine, and around vhich the ropes 21 24 are passed in a groove n pulleys 25, provided for that purpose.

At the for\ 7ard end of the machine are two 'ertical circular knives or cutters, 27 27, which ut the sod on each side, ot' the proper-Width or the ditch, so that the horizontal cutter 28 nay remove the strip and throwit to one side, .having the earth bare, ready for the operation t' the digger. This apparatus may be raised r lowered by means of the lever 30 and its onnections, so as to eut more or less deeply, s may he desired. Should it he desirableto lake a ditch simply, the spout or conveyor shown in Fig. 4 is put on in the place of the spout 29, which is otherwise used, and which is shown attached to the machine.

Having thus fully described our invention, We claiml. The arrangement of teeth on the buckets of an endless chain, so that those on one bucket will follow the interstiees between the teeth of the one which precedes it, in such a manner as to give alternately different depths of penetration, and these two be followed by a third bucket having af scraper instead of teeth, which cleans up the loose dirt which the others have left, as hereinbel'ore described.

2. The combination ofthe guide 14 and l5, reel 13, and spout 29, by which the tiles are laid and covered, (arranged to Work in connection with an excavating apparatus,) substantiall y as described.

BRADFORD P. FOSTER. VM. H. CHAFFEE.

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